Let me apologize 1st for being a terrible writer. Hopefully I can convey my thoughts enough for members to get the gist of my dilemma.
just the facts ma'am:
39 y.o.
single
Have been quite mustachian over the last few years
about 250k in the bank
currently living w/ parents in Mass.
I HATE the LONG winters of Mass.
Kinda like the seasons though, especially summer & autumn
Elementary School Band Director for last 12+ years
have unfortunately lived a very unfulfilled life and want to change that.
Love to ride my bicycle everywhere, year-round
Love & want to live by the beach (in a warmer climate than Mass)(love to surf, skateboard, bodyboard etc.)
Love to garden & grow my own food
Would love to fish when living by ocean for more food
Okay, so a few years back I was planning a move to Delaware which got halted by meeting a lady whom I thought was THE ONE. I won't get into that here, but unfortunately that relationship is done and I must move on. Anyway, I was all about the frugal, sustainable lifestyle for years and had plotted to buy a house near the Rehoboth Beach, De coast and grow as much food as I could on my land, compost, fish, ride my bike everywhere, etc. I LOVED the low taxes and decent house prices of the area. I wanted to live a semi-retired life. Being a musician & teacher, I was hoping to private teach instrumental lessons (at my home), substitute teach occasionally in local schools as often as needed, and gig during the tourist season. This was what I had planned to do before I embarked on a year long relationship w/ that person I thought was THE ONE.
Year long Relationship ended at the beginning of this summer. So, back to figuring out where in the world I should live.
I spent some time checking out the Newport/Middletown Rhode Island areas, and actually came close to trying to put an offer on a house or two. Like the area, but the weather isn't all that different from mass.
I then visited the Rehoboth Beach area, and (ironically) just wasn't sure that the area fit me.
I've been spending a little time in Long Beach, NY over the years as my sister has been living there for about 15 years. I've always liked the area, but the housing prices and taxes have always seemed astronomical to me, and out of my reach. Given those two points, Long Beach, NY has always seemed like an area that I wouldn't be able to live the kind of laid back, semi-retired lifestyle in.
Well, just this summer after doing the above mentioned traveling, I've come to think that Long Beach, NY is sooo perfect for me in sooo many ways EXCEPT the house prices and property taxes. Long Island feels like home to me (I grew up on L.I.). My sister lives in Long Beach and we're very close. The scene and social-ness of the area I dig & just don't see anywhere else near by. It's still close enough to visit my folks. It's got a more even lay of the four seasons. I could cycle everywhere, & skateboard around town. I love the beaches, boardwalk, and bay area for outdoors-y type stuff I like to do. I could probably go on for a while about why I REALLY now feel like Long Beach would be such a nice place for me.
The obvious problem is: The house prices, taxes and cost of living are NOT conducive to all my frugal, mustachian ways!!! Houses don't have a lot of land to do all the gardening, composting, clothes lines, etc that I want to do. But I really feel that the area might be very conducive to my social life, as I've lived quite an unfulfilling one to date. I've heard Long Beach described as a slice of California coastline on the east coast, with the boardwalk and vibe it has.
Okay, I know I'm leaving out a lot, and in hopes that I haven't confused you by now, I'll stop here.
So I guess I'm looking for some advice on What the Hell I should do???